Driving mechanism for bicycles.



N0. 7l3,350. Patented Nov. ll, I902.

M. SCHMIDT.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR BICYCLES.

{Application filed. June 14. 1899.

2 Sheeis-Sheet I.

( No Model.)

Patented Nov. II; I902.

M. SCHMIDT.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR BICYCLES.

(Application filed June 14. 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

m l "IIIIMII Ya 6am:

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RS co. PHOTO-LIYHO., WASHINGTON c NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL SCHMIDT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. I

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 713,350, dated November11, 1902.

Application filed June 14, 1899.

To all whom, it may concern;

Be it known that 1, MICHAEL SCHMIDT, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Bicycles, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in bicycledriving mechanism and in means for storing power and applying it whendesired to aid in the propulsion of the vehicle. The frame of thebicycle constitutes a reservoir for compressed air, such air beingstored by the movement of the pedals and appropriate connections whenthe bicycle is being propelled.

The advantages of my invention will more fully appear hereinafter,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which my inventionis fully illustrated, and in Which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of abicycle equipped with my improved driving mechanism; and Fig. 2 is asectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line a a, Fig. 1,showing also a portion of one of the cylinders and a portion of theframe broken away to more fully illustrate details of my invention.

The object of my invention is to combine with a special form of drivingmechanism auxiliary means for driving a bicycle when extra power isdesired at such time, for instance, as when climbing a hill. I prefer touse compressed air to operate such auxiliary driving mechanism, the airbeing compressed during the ordinary running of the bicycle and storedin the hollow frame of the same.

Secured to the hub of the rear wheel is a pinion 1, which meshes with apinion 2, carried by a stud or spindle 3, journaled in any suitablemanner in the frame of the bicycle. A crank 4 is mounted on the end ofthe stud or spindle 3, and to the end of this crank the driving-rod 5 ispivotally attached, the other end of said rod 5 being connected at 6 tothe cross-head 7, carried by the piston-rod 8. A cranked arm 9 is alsoconnected to the crosshead 7, the other end of which arm is connected at10 to one end of a two-armed lever 11, said lever being pivoted at 12 tothe frame of the bicycle. To the other arm of this lever 11 the arm 13of a two-armed lever 14 is attached, said lever being pivoted at 15 toSerial No. 720,591. (No model.)

the frame of the machine. The other arm 16 of this lever 14 is curved inthe opposite direction and is connected at its end to the pedal 17. Eachpedal 17 is connected by means of a rod 18 to a cross-head 19, workingin a slide 20, said slides being arranged on opposite sides of theframe,above the lower bend of the same. Each cross-head has attached toit a piston-rod 21, and each pistonrod carries a piston 21, arrangedwithin a cylinder 22, these cylinders being secured to the frame belowthe slide and in proper communication with the frame of the bicycle.

The frame of my improved bicycle is substantially U-shaped, as shown inthe accompanying drawings, and is hollow, so as to serve as a receptaclefor the compressed air, as will hereinafter appear. Suitable means areprovided for the admission and discharge of the compressed air.(Indicated by dotted lines in the drawings and set forth hereinafter.)

It will be apparent that as the bicycle is propelled by means of thepedals air will be stored in the hollow frame of the same. The air maybe withdrawn from this reservoir to assist in the propulsion of thebicycle in the following manner: The frame-reservoir is provided with asuitable relief-valve 23, (indicated by dotted lines in the drawings,)and connection is made between said frame-reservoir and the cylinder 24by means of a pipe 25. The outlet from the frame reservoir through thispipe into the cylinder is controlled by a valve 26, which is controlledby the rider, as will be described shortly.

Mounted above the cylinder 24 is an ordinary valve -boX, provided withthe usual slide-valve and having a valve-rod 27 connected to aneccentric 28, mounted on the stud or spindle 3. The eccentric 28 beingturned as the spindle 3 is rotated, the valverod is carried back andforth, and the valve operated thereby is moved into different positionsnecessary to provide for the inlet and exhaust of the motive fluid toand from the cylinder 24 to act upon the piston located therein when thebicycle is driven by the auxiliary mechanism.

The means for controlling the valve 26 are as follows: A lever 29 ispivotally mounted at 30 on the handle-bar 31 of the bicycle, with oneend bent upward and provided with a knob or handle 32 within convenientreach of the hand of the rider. To the other end 33 of this lever a rod3& is pivotally connected, which rod by means of suitable links andbell-crank levers 35 and 36 is connected to the valve 26, so that whenthe lever 29 is operated the said valve will be opened to admit air tothe cylinder 24. In order to hold the lever 29 in such position that thevalve 26 may be kept open to admit air to the cylinder 24, I provide theupturned portion of said lever with a lug or catch 37, which is adaptedto automatically engage a spring catch or trigger 38, pivoted on thehandle-bar 31, as shown in the drawings.

The operation of my improved driving mechanism will be readilyunderstood from the foregoing description when taken in connection withthe annexed drawings, and a detailed description thereof does not seemnecessary.

During ordinary riding the reservoir in the frame is charged with air,and when it is desired to run solely by means of the stored power or toutilize the same in assisting the propulsion of the bicycle-say in goingup a hill-the lever 29 is depressed so as to open the valve 26 and admitair to the cylinder 24., which will operate the piston and piston-rod 27and through the eccentric and its connection apply power to the rearwheel of the bicycle, as will be readily understood.

Modifications in detail may be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Any desired form of tires may be employed with my improved bicycle; butI prefer to use a tire of the cushion type, in which the tube is filledwith feathers, hair, or the like, as shown at 39 in the accompanyingdrawings, where the tube is broken away to better disclose the filling.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent '1. The combination in a bicycle, of the frame, pedalscarried by said frame and adapted to be operated by the feet of therider, a pinion carried by the rear wheel of the bicycle, adriving-pinion carried by the rear fork of the frame above, and inconstant engagement with the wheel-pinion, a crank carried by the saiddriving-pinion, a twoarmed lever carried by the frame of the bicycle, aconnection between said crank and one arm of said lever,connecting-links between the opposite end of said lever and one of thedriving-pedals, an engine, consisting of a cylinder, a valve andvalve-chest mounted on the frame, a piston in said cylinder, said pistonbeing attached to the connection be tween the two-armed lever and thecrank and serving as an auxiliary driving means for said crank andpinion, the frame of the bicycle being hollow and serving as a reservoirfor motive fluid to drive the engine, air-compressors mounted on thefront portion of the frame of the bicycle, links connecting saidair-compressors with the pedals whereby air may be stored in the frameas the pedals are moved up and down, a valved connection between therear portion of the frame-reservoir and the engine-cylinder for thepassage of the motive fluid to the engine, and means operated from thehandle-bar for controlling said valve, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a bicycle, of the frame, driving-pedals carried bythe frame and adapted to be operated by the feet of the rider, a pinioncarried by the rear Wheel of the bicycle, a driving-pinion carried bythe rear fork of the frame, above, and in constant engagement with thewheel-pinion, a twoarmed lever pivoted to the frame of the bicycle, adriving connection between one end of said lever and the crank,connecting-links secured to the opposite end of said lever and to thedriving-pedal, a single-cylinder compressed-air engine mounted on theframe of the bicycle, the piston-rod of said engine being secured at itsouter end to the driving connection between the crank and the twoarmedlever, said engine serving as an auxiliary driving means for thebicycle, the frame of the bicycle serving as a reservoir for the motivefluid for driving the engine, air-compressors mounted on the frontportion of the frame of the bicycle, pistons adapted to saidcompressors, links connecting said pistons and the pedals whereby airmay be stored in the frame as the pedals are moved up and down, a valvedconnection between the rear portion of the frame and the cylinder of theengine for the passage of motive fluid whereby the bicycle may be drivenindependently of the pedals, a valve controlling the movements of theengine-piston and mounted di= rectly on the engine-cylinder, and aneccentric mounted on the spindle of the drivingpinion and controllingsaid valve, the parts of said mechanism being operated when the bicycleis being driven by the pedals, but adapted and serving to drive thebicycle when the foot-power is withdrawn, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the frame of the bicycle, of theair-compressors, pistons carried thereby, pedals for driving the bicycleby foot-power, links connecting said pedals with the pistons of thecompressors whereby air maybe stored simultaneously in the frame of thebicycle as the said bicycle is being propelled by foot-power, drivingmeans for the bicycle including pinions 1 and 2 journaled in suitablebearings and so arranged as to be in constant engagement with eachother, the pinion 1 being carried by the rear wheel of the bicycle, andthe pinion 2 mounted on the frame above said pinion 1, means adapted tobe operated by the compressed air for aiding in the propulsion of thebicycle, said means including a cylinder, a piston therein, a crankcarried by the driving-pinion 2, a connectingrod between the piston ofthe engine and said crank, a valve between the rear portion of the thereservoir formed by the frame and the enframe and the engine-cylinder,alever carried gine, substantially as described. 10 by the handle-bar ofthe bicycle, bell-crank In testimony whereof I affix my signature leversmounted on the frame of the bicycle in presence of two witnesses.

and connected together by links and to the MICHAEL SCHMIDT. levercarried by the handle-bar, and means l Witnesses: for locking said leverwhen the valve is in FRANCIS D. PASTORIUS,

position to provide communication between B. D. ARCHER.

